Methods and apparatus for prioritization of access to external devices
US6195724A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 12, 1999 |
| Grant date | Feb 27, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 12, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F13/1642
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
According to the present invention, an apparatus for prioritizing access to external devices includes a request queue suitably arranged to store any number of reqeusting device requests of the external devices, a request queue controller unit coupled to the request queue suitably arranged to fetch any of the requests stored therein, a responds queue suitably arranged to store any number of responses from the the external devices. The apparatus also includes a responds queue controller unit coupled to the responds queue suitably arranged to fetch any of the requests stored therein; wherein each of the responds and its associated request have associated with them a group identification number indicating a particular group of requesting devices from which the request originated and the corresponding response is destined, wherein the responds queue controller and the request queue controller units use a priority number stored in a group priority selector register to prioritize each of the stored reqeusts and responses, such that a request or response having a higher priority bypasses a request or response having a lower priority.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.